Old Toad/New Experience

[draboo]

We are picking up this 1992 Geo Tracker 2wd MANUAL TRANSMISSION toad tonight. I tested it last night and it was a fun little "buzz-bomb", light and just enough room for us and our two dawg daughters.

We've never towed a toad before. Plenty of trailers across the country, but not a toad.

Not to set off a storm of controversy, but we are considering a tow dolly instead of investing in the various components for flat towing.

Any one else have experiences with toad towing on a dolly?

Thanks,eh?

Brad

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1fEie-t3g-1UTNZOE5JdnJKaUU/view?usp=sharing

[sailor_lou]

We used a dolly for about 5 years and it is no way as difficult as some make it out to be. They are not that heavy to move around if you need to and if you take advantage of pull through sites you will rarely need to move it manually. After a little practice you can load the car yourself in about 10 minutes. Granted, it's not as easy a four down, but it works just fine. Also, if you buy a used dolly you can probably sell it in a few years for what you paid for it in the event you decide to go four down in the future. Good luck.

Lou
05 Travel Supreme Envoy

[mowermech]

I use an old Demco Kar Kaddy dolly to tow our Chrysler PT Cruiser.
I don't find dolly towing to be all that difficult.
The farthest we have towed it was from here to Ringgold, GA and back. No problems.
You will hear all kinds of doom and gloom stories about how horrible it is to use a dolly, and four down towing is the ONLY way to go. For the writer, such stories are undoubtedly true.
I used to tow a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited four down, and I tow my Dodge 1500 four down. For ME, the doom and gloom stories about dolly towing are not true. for YOU? only YOU can answer that.

Now, to return to the issue of whether or not your 2 wheel drive is towable. I absolutely agree, check the Owners Manual for towing instructions. If it is front wheel drive, it can be towed on a dolly. If it is rear wheel drive, there is a good chance it is not towable, period. Oh, yes, there are always those who say they towed the identical vehicle for thousands of miles. MATBE you can to, in spite of what the book says. then again, maybe you will be proof of the pudding, and your tranny will burn up after the first 500 miles.
Good luck.

[rockhillmanor]

I would check your owners manual to double check if the car is towable 4 down or with a dolly. It's listed under 'recreational towing' in the manual.

THIS should be your bible not anyone else' info when dealing with all the different manuf.types of a Tracker.

Just a heads up about Trackers that I experienced that might save you some headaches! :W

I had a Chevy Tracker and because the Tracker went thru so MANY different manufacturing plants and actually changing in the middle of years, etc.

I.E. These are essentially the same car but can be totally different when trying to get info/parts: Chevy, Geo, Suzuki. ANY info outside the box of the actual manual that came with it can be incorrect.

Especially when Regarding 'how' to tow it, if you have to start it, what position to leave the key in when towing, if you had to add a pump etc etc.

I had a "Chevy" Tracker yet many of the parts had to be ordered under "Geo" Tracker AND even at that you would get the wrong parts. Forget to look up 4 door and could affect if you got the right light bulb!!

When I had the base plate ordered for my "Chevy" Tracker when the base plate came in it didn't fit. They had to order the one for a "Suzuki" Tracker and when THAT one came in we found out it was imperative to note that it was a 4 door because that actually was yet another different model base plate. :S

So bottom line what others do with their Tracker might not be correct for the type of Tracker you have.

[lanerd]

Guys... the OP is looking for someone with experiences with toad towing on a dolly...not whether he should.:S

I've never used a dolly, so can't really comment one way or another.

I have "heard" that some dollys are difficult to hook up the tire straps and others have mentioned about lights on the toad, and others have indicated that finding a spot to store it when at an rv park can be difficult.

So, those of you who "do" have experiences with a dolly...sing out!:p

Ron

[J-Rooster]

Towing all 4 down is the way I chose to tow! It really works for me and i've been RVing since 1976. Good Luck to you if you choose to go the other way.

[ets1996]

I had a 93 Geo Tracker two wheel drive MANUAL transmission and it was towed four down 150,000 miles plus with no problem. I would set it up to tow rather than use a dolly more more stuff to maintain store etc with a dolly just my opinion Good luck

[WyoTraveler]

JimM68 wrote:
4 down is much easier, particularly as you've purchased a suitable toad.
Way faster hook / uphook.
Nothing to store (towbar stays on the back of the motorhome always)

Interesting. He is buying a 2 WD not a 4 WD. I have towed a Geo 4WD. I don't think you can tow a 2WD 4 down or on a dolly.

[JimM68]

4 down is much easier, particularly as you've purchased a suitable toad.
Way faster hook / uphook.
Nothing to store (towbar stays on the back of the motorhome always)

[WyoTraveler]

Don't think you can tow it 4 down anyway with 2 wheel drive. You may want to check if it can even be towed on a dolly.